[derbigpr]

Has this ever happened to you? Its been with me for the past three, four days, and its now starting to worry me....how to put it simply...all headphones sound bad to me. I mean literally, horribly bad. I cant even force myself to listen to any of them. I don't know how this happened, one day I just put my headphones on, and they sounded bad. No definition, no control, weird sound tonality, harsh, almost painful experience. And its like that with all headphones, you know its serious when I'd describe the sound of HD650's, DT880/990 or K701's as unlistenable crap, if you asked me now. It must be my ears. I might have strained or exhausted my ears with overly loud listening, but with speakers my hearing is ok....
 
Ever happened to anyone else before?

 

[GrindingThud]

Hmmm, grain brain. Hopefully it will pass. You didn't listen to anything fancy did you?
Too much caffeine or Viagra?

 

[mastershake2393]

That sensation only happened to me once during mid-terms last year.

Are you extremely stressed? If you are, I'd say it's most likely due to stress. At least that's what I'm attributing my sporadic hate of headphones to.

 

[stefanhartman]

Quote:

That sensation only happened to me once during mid-terms last year.

Are you extremely stressed? If you are, I'd say it's most likely due to stress. At least that's what I'm attributing my sporadic hate of headphones to.

My longest music listening sessions used to be during exams at university. I'd listen to music for, say, 10 hours or longer per day when studying. Nearing the exam I'd sometimes suddenly feel very irritated when using my headphones and I'd say that was due to stress or that the sound somehow makes it hard to concentrate at the final moments. I never really orced myself to keep them on long enough to be able to say they sounded bad, but if what you are experiencing is similar then don't worry, wait till you are more relaxed and play a few favourites.

 

[kiwirugby]

Think about the money you can make selling all your stuff and the money you will save in the future.  I'm sure your wallet will thank you!

 

[mastershake2393]

Quote:

My longest music listening sessions used to be during exams at university. I'd listen to music for, say, 10 hours or longer per day when studying. Nearing the exam I'd sometimes suddenly feel very irritated when using my headphones and I'd say that was due to stress or that the sound somehow makes it hard to concentrate at the final moments. I never really orced myself to keep them on long enough to be able to say they sounded bad, but if what you are experiencing is similar then don't worry, wait till you are more relaxed and play a few favourites.

 
Well it hasn't happened since last year, so no need to worry.
 
Tea, warm baths and yoga really helps with any stress though 

 

[derbigpr]

Quote:

Are you extremely stressed?

 
Not at the moment. I was about 2 weeks ago when I had my exams, but now I'm actually very relaxed and on holidays...that's why its so weird. Its a perfect time to just relax and listen to music, but I can't. How to describe the sensation...on all volume levels, I feel like the music is too loud and harsh, and the "in your head" feeling is very strong, and if I reduce the volume to comfortable levels (which is very silent), it sounds bad again, because its...well, too silent.

 

[MegaMushroom]

I'm sorry to say.  You have caught the rare super upgradetitis bug.  The only cure is going full analog and getting a pair of Stax SR-009.
 
On a more serious note hope it passes.  Can't let our wallet's relax now, can we?

 

[derbigpr]

Quote:

You didn't listen to anything fancy did you?

 

Nope, I actually spent most time with sennheiser cx300 earbuds plugged into my phone for the past two-three weeks...I basically only listened to music while traveling. That's why this is all even more weird. I'd expect that after spending time with crappy ear buds, going to really good full sized headphones would be a nice change, but it's not. I bet its ear fatigue, because I really have been ruthless with volume levels while listening to ear buds. I'm gonna stop using headphones for a few days and give me ears some rest. Won't force myself like I did these past few days. Man...this sucks, I feel like I hate music at the moment.

 

[derbigpr]

Quote:

I'm sorry to say.  You have caught the rare super upgradetitis bug.  The only cure is going full analog and getting a pair of Stax SR-009.
 
On a more serious note hope it passes.  Can't let our wallet's relax now, can we?

 
 
Well, if I sell all my headphones, I'd probably be able to buy a used pair of 009's. Thats not such a bad idea. Or maybe a brand new pair, with some really nice amp. I don't really need two kidneys anyway.

 

[Jasper9395]

Quote:

I'm sorry to say.  You have caught the rare super upgradetitis bug.  

I concur. I hardly listened to any of my headphones for a period that lasted months last year. I was really confused I thought I loved my HD650s before. While I was home over summer I only used my speaker system. I even contemplated getting rid of all my headphone related equipment to invest more in my speaker system. I thought 'I like speakers, headphones don't do it for me anymore'. Back in uni I bought a pair of D2000s but it didn't cure my upgradetitis; they did not match my HD650 in terms of overall quality. Then I got a new DAC (a major upgrade), now I love my HD650s again and spend much more time listening to music again. 

 

[GrindingThud]

Wait until all your tubes sound bad..... :rolleyes:

I concur. I hardly listened to any of my headphones for a period that lasted months last year. I was really confused I thought I loved my HD650s before. While I was home over summer I only used my speaker system. I even contemplated getting rid of all my headphone related equipment to invest more in my speaker system. I thought 'I like speakers, headphones don't do it for me anymore'. Back in uni I bought a pair of D2000s but it didn't cure my upgradetitis; they did not match my HD650 in terms of overall quality. Then I got a new DAC (a major upgrade), now I love my HD650s again and spend much more time listening to music again. 

 

[Jasper9395]

Quote:

Wait until all your tubes sound bad.....

Oh no, I am actually starting a Crack build soon.

 

[GrindingThud]

Hopefully just 'Temporary Threshold Shift' and you'll recover in a couple days....

I bet its ear fatigue, because I really have been ruthless with volume levels while listening to ear buds. I'm gonna stop using headphones for a few days and give me ears some rest.

 

[Anewills]

Seriously, give your ears a break.  You may have damaged your ear drums.  If it's more severe than that you may have punctured one of them.  Sort of sounds like what you're describing.  If you have pain or anything like that you should definitely see a doctor.